Anthony Richardson's NFL debut: Rookie QB accounts for 2 TDs, but Colts lose to Jaguars

Sunday contained good news about the future for Indianapolis Colts fans, even if the outlook isn’t quite as bright in the present.

The Colts lost another season opener on Sunday as the Jacksonville Jaguars secured a 31-21 comeback win at Lucas Oil Stadium. But many fans got their first look at new franchise quarterback Anthony Richardson, who showed plenty of promise with 223 passing yards and two total touchdowns.

Richardson’s exuberant first touchdown

At 21 years and 111 days old, Richardson became the youngest NFL quarterback with a rushing touchdown in over 20 years when he scampered into the end zone from two yards out in the second quarter.

Richardson spiked the ball into the turf in triumphant celebration of his first rushing touchdown, and the top-five pick was able to make things happen on the ground throughout Sunday’s game. On 10 carries, Richardson ran for a team-high 40 yards as the Colts had to get creative in the absence of injured star running back Jonathan Taylor.

In the third quarter, Richardson threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to new favorite target Michael Pittman Jr., who caught eight passes for 97 yards in Week 1 — perhaps the start of a franchise-defining connection between the rookie QB and the fourth-year receiver.

An unfortunate interception — and an injury

Indianapolis had the lead entering the fourth quarter, but the Colts fell behind 24-21 after rookie running back Tank Bigsby scored on a one-yard touchdown run. On the following drive, Richardson had a chance to respond immediately, but he threw a costly interception to third-year cornerback Tyson Campbell.

The Jaguars punched it in again four plays later, as Travis Etienne broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run to put the game out of reach for the hosts. But making matters worse, Richardson left the game with an apparent injury with less than a minute to go as the Colts tried to trim the deficit — the rookie collided with safety Andre Cisco and appeared to suffer a blow to the head courtesy of Cisco‘s shoulder.

Fortunately, Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed postgame that Richardson would be okay and likely ready for Week 2, when Indianapolis will try to secure the first win of its new era in Houston against the division rival Texans — anchored by another rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud.